Injury Problems Up Front For Real Madrid

byDavidonNovember 9, 2012

Real Madrid are going through an injury crisis of strikers with the news that Gonzalo Higuain will be joining Karim Benzema on the treatment table.

Higuain could be out for up to a month after suffering a hamstring injury against Borussia Dortmund.The Argentine international had to be substituted after 15 minutes of the Champions League game and, according to Marca, tests have confirmed the injury is worse than at first feared, meaning that Higuain will be sidelined for a minimum of 21 days.

Benzema has his own hamstring injury, which leaves Jose Mourinho short of strikers at a crucial point of the season.

Both strikers are expected the miss the La Liga games against Levante, Athletic Bilbao, Real Betis and Atletico Madrid, as well as the Champions League clashes with Manchester City and Ajax.

Real trail Barcelona by 8 points in the league and they cannot afford to fall any further behind their bitter rivals. And in the Champions League, finishing top in the group is not assured as Dortmund lead Madrid by a point with two games to go.

With the injuries to Higuain and Benzema I expect Mourinho to play Cristiano Ronaldo in a more central role, with possibly José Callejón or Kaka playing just off him. It is a position that Ronaldo has taken up previously at Madrid, as well as during his time at Manchester United.